Controlling mechanism



March 20, 7 1,662,826

' M. P. HOLMES CONTROLL ING MECHANISM Filed May 28. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 rm ff \w figim Q MarchZO, 1928. 1 662 826 M. P. HOLMES CONTROLLiNG MECHANISM Filed May 28, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. 20, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MoRRIs P. HoLMES, F CLAREMONT, NEW HAMPSHIRE, AsSIGNoR'r'o SULLIVAN" MACHINERY COMPANY, A CORPORATION 0P MASSACHUSETTS.

CONTROLLING MECHANISM.

Application filed May 28, 1924. Serial No. 716,474.

ing mechanism for a mining machine cutter bar. Still another object of my invention is to provide an improved controlling and looking mechanism for the cutting mechanism of the mining machine wherein the cutter bar may be readily adjusted andlockcd in position when adjusted. A further object of my invention is to provide an improved mechanism for connecting the driving means for the adjusting mechanism for the cutter bar and for locking the cutter bar in its adjusted position, while preventing the release of the cutter bar driving means when the locking means are inoperative. A Still further object of my invention is to provide means for locking the cutter bmadjusting mecha nism in position and for connecting the driving means for the adjusting mechanism, whereby a. comon operating element is utilized. These and other objects and advantages of my invention will, however, hereinafter more fully appear.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown for purposes of illustration one form which my invention may assume in practice.

In these drawings,

Fig. 1 is a plan view, partially broken away to facilitate illustration, of the mining machine in which my improved controlling and locking mechanism is incorporated.

Fig. 2 is a central horizontal sectional view corresponding to that shown in Fig. 1 of my improved controlling and locking mechanism and a portion of the driving connections.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on line'3-3 of Fig. 1 illustrating my improved controlling mechanism.

Fig. 4 is a plan View of the operating lever and its cooperating parts, different positions of the lever being indicated in dotted lines.v

Fig. 5 is a transverse horizontal sectional view taken substantially on line 55 of Fig. 3. l

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional View of a portion of my improved controlling and looking mechanism.

I have shown a mining machinegenerally designated 1 of substantially the same general type as that described and claimed in my co-pending application Ser. No. 573,1l9, filed July 6, 1922, which comprises an elongated main frame 2 which carries the driving motor and the feeding mechanism (not shown) and which is in turn, mounted upon a wheeled truck 3 adapted tov move along a trackway & in a well known manner. The forward end of the main frame 2 is provided with an eccentric frame 5-which carries an adjustablehead 6 by which is carried cutting mechanism, including a. pivoted cutter bar 7 about which an endless cutter bit carrying cutter chain 8 is adapted to be circulated. The eccentric frame 5 and the head 6 are suitably journaled on the main frame 2 as at 9, to permit pivoted adjustment of the cutter bar in different planes. An internal gear 10 is rigidly secured to the eccentric frame 5, herein by bolts 11, and is disposed in an annular member 12 suitably Secured to the main frame 2 as by bolts 13. A spur driving pinion 14 meshes with the internal gear 10 and which gear 14 is adapted to be connected to a longitudinally extending drive shaft 16,. suitably journaled within the main frame as at 17, or locked rigidly to a portion of the stationary frame 2 by means.

of my improved controlling and locking mechanism. The armature shaft of the driv-- ing motor is provided with a bevelled pinion- 19 which constantly meshes with bevelled gears 20 and 21, rotating the same in o posite directions. These bevelled gears O and 21 are alternatively adapted to drive a worm 22in reverse directions through suitable friction clutch mechanism, generally designated at 23 and 24 which is adapted to be operated by a shipper mechanism 25 by means of a controlling lever 26, suitably carried at the top of the machine frame. The worm 22 constantly meshes with a worm gear 27 keyed as at 27 to the shaft 16, and is adapted to drive the latter and consequently the spur pinion let through my improved controlling mechanism.

In my improved mechanism a sleeve 28 is suitably secured as by bolt 29 in a bore 30 formed in the main frame 2, and this sleeve is provided with spur teeth 81' which cooperate with teeth 32 formed on the clutch member 33 whichis adapted to connect the teeth 31 with spur teeth 34 formed on an annular member 35 keyed as at 36 to the elongated hub of the spur pinion 14. Slidable COiLXlflllY with the clutch member 33 is a similar clutch member 37 which is adapted to connect the teeth 34, formed on the member 35, with teeth 38 formed on an enlarged portion 39 of the shaft 16. These clutch members 33 and 37 are provided with annular grooves 40 and 41 with which "shipper yokes 42 and 43 are adapted to cooperate, the shipper yoke 42 being keyed, as at 44, to a vertically disposed tubular member 45 provided with a bore 46 in which an axially disposed rod 47 is dis posed. The member 45 and the rod 46 are suitably journaled on the machine frame as at 48, the former being provided at its upper end with clutch teeth 49 which are adapted to engage corresponding clutch teeth 50 formed on the hub of a lever 51, while the upper end of the rod 47 has a lever 54 keyed thereto, as at 52, and is rigid- 1y held thereon by a bolt or nut connection 53. As illustrated, the levers 51 and 54 are suitably connected as by pivot pins 55 and 56 to a U-shaped portion 57 formed on a common operating handle 58. It will be noted that the lever 58 is slotted at its extremity at59 to permit swinging movement of the lever 54 with the rod 47 to which 7 the shipper neli'iber 43 is keyed, as indicated at60. A stop member 61 provided with an upstanding portion 62 is secured to the machine frame by means of bolts 63. This stop member prevents excessive rearward movement of the clutch 37.

The mode of operation of my improved controlling and locking mechanism is as follows.

The armature pinion 19 is adapted to be rotated by the motor and one or the other of the reverse frictions 23 and 24 is then applied to drive the shaft 16 in the desired direction through the gearing 22 and 27. Let it be assumed that the head 6 is locked in adjusted position with the clutches 32 and 37 disposed in theposition as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, with the drive pinion 14 rigidly locked to the main frame 2 througl'i the hub of the drive pinion which is keyed as at 36, to the annular member 35 which is provided'at its outer periphery with the teeth 34; The teeth on the clutch 33 connect the teeth 34 with the teeth formed on the stationary annular sleeve 28, thereby preventing any rotation of the pinion 14 relative to the sleeve 28 or with the shaft 16. The clutch member 37, as shown, is in its inoperativeposition, the teeth 38 being disconnected from the teeth formed on the clutch at this time. If it is desired. to swing the cutter bar carrying head 6 about its journal 9, the operating handle 58 is moved in a clock-wise direction, pivoting about the pin 55 carried by the lever 51, and moving the lever 54 by means of a pin or slot connection 56 and 59 in a clock-wise direction, causing the clutch shipper yoke 43, which cooperates with the annular groove 41 vformed in the clutch member 37, to be moved to the right, until it engages the upstanding portion 62 formed on the stop member 61, thereby preventing further movement of the clutch as indicated by the dotted lines (see Fig. 2). This causes the teeth formed on the clutch, which cooperate with the teeth 34 formed on an annular member 35, to cooperate with the teeth 38 formed on, the enlarged portion 33 of the shaft 16 thereby connecting the pinion 14 with the drive shaft 16. As the clutch mem ber 33 still looks the annular member 35 with the stationary sleeve 28 at this time,

the friction drive connections are caused to yield, thereby preventing any breakage of "the driving connections. The operating handle 53 is then further swung 111 a clock-wise direction pivoting about the pin 56 carried by the lever 54, which is held from further movement, causing the lever 51 to swing in a clock-wise direction consequently rotating the member 45 and swinging the shipper member 42 which cooperates with the annular groove 40 formed in the clutch 33 moving the latter to the right, releasing the teeth 32 from the teeth 31 formed on the stationary sleeve 28. This operation unlocks the pinion 14 from the sleeve 28 and permits the drive shaft 16 to rotate the pinion 14, consequently rotating the gear 10 and swinging the head 6, adjusting the bar in its desired position. hen the clutch controlling elements 33 and 37 are being manipulated the friction cont-rolling handle 26 may also be manipulated to insure the proper registry of the cooperating clutch teeth. After the baris adjusted, the handle 58 is swung in a counter clock-wise direc* tion, first throwing the clutch to the left, locking the stationary sleeve 28 and the pinion 14 together, and when locked, throws the clutch member 37 to the left, releasing the teeth 33 from the teeth formed on the an nular member 35, thereby disconnecting the drive.

As a result of my invention, it will be noted that I have provided an improved controlling and locking means for the adj usting mechanism for a cutter bar of a mining machine having a common operating handle. Itwill further be noted that my improved mechanism is of an exceedingly simple and compact structure and which may be applied to a mining machine of standard form with a minimum of change.

IVhile I have in thisapplication specifically described one form which my invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that this form of the same is shown for purposesof illustration and that the invention may be modified and embodied in various other forms without departingfrom its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

IVhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a controlling mechanism, a plurality of separate clutches having independently movable clutch elements one of said clutches being a locking clutch while the other is a drive control clutch, and a common operating member for actuating said clutch elements, said operating member when moved in one direction first actuating said locking clutch element and thereafter actuating said drive control clutch element and when moved in the opposite direction effecting actuation of said clutch elements in a reverse order.

2. In a controlling mechanism, a plurality of clutches having independently movable clutch elements, a pivoted shipper for each clutch element, said shippers being swingable about a common axis, and a common operating member for both clutches when moved in one direction successively swinging said shippers to effect actuation of one clutch element and then the other clutch element to successively operate said clutches.

3. In combination, a drive member, a driven member, a stationary member, and means including a common operating member for initially connecting said driven member to said stationary member and thereafter disconnecting said driven member from said drive member when said operating member is moved in one direction.

4t. In combination, a drive member, a driven member, a stationary member, and means including a common operating member for initially connecting said driven member to said stationary member and thereafter disconnecting said driven member from said drive member when said operating member is moved in one direction and to initially connect said driven member to said drive member and thereafter disconnect said driven member from said stationary member when said operating member is moved in the opposite direction.

5. In combination, a drive member, a driven member, a stationary member, and means including a common operating lever for alternatively connecting said driven member with said drive member and said stationary member, said driven member being connected to said stationary member prior to the release of said driven member from said drive member.

6. In combination, a drive member, a driven member, a stationary member, means including independent operating elements for alternatively connecting said driven member withv the drive membe and the stationary member, said. driven member being connected to said stationary member prior to the release of said driven member from said drive member, and a common operating element for said means.

7. In combination, a drive member, a driven member, a stationary member, and coaxial means including a plurality of clutches and operating elements therefor to alternatively connect the driven member with the drive member and the stationary member, said driven member being connected to said stationary member prior to the re lease of said driven member from said drive member.

8. In combination, a drive member, a driven member, a stationary member, means including a plurality of relatively movable clutches movable in the same direction for connecting said driven member with said drive member and said stationary member, said driven'membcr being connected to said stationary member prior to the release of said driven member from said drive memher, and a common operating element for said clutches.

9. In a mining machine, a. frame, cutting mechanism journaled thereon, and means for alternativelyeffecting rotation of the cut ting mechanism about its journal and means for locking the cutting mechanism with said frame, and a common'operating element for said means.

10. In a mining machine, a frame, cutting -mecl1anism journaled thereon, means includ ing a plurality of clutches for alternatively locking said cutting mechanism in stationary position and for effecting rotation of said cutting mechanism about its journal, and a common operating element for said clutches.

.11. In a mining machine, a frame, a cutting mechanism journaled thereon, means including a plurality of clutches for alternatively effecting rotation of said cutting mechanism about its journal and for locking said cutting mechanism in position, shipper mechanism for said clutches including a plurality of relatively movable levers, and a common operating element for said levers.

12. In a mining apparatus, a frame, cutting mechanism mounted thereon for movement relative thereto, means for moving said cutting mechanism relative to Said frame and for loclringthe same in fixed relation to said frame at the will of the operator including a cutting mechanism moving element, a cutting mechanism locking element, and means for connecting said cutting mechanism to either of said elements requiring simultaneousconnection to both of said elements during change from connection to one to connection to the other thereof.

13. In a mining apparatus, a frame, cutting mechanism mounted thereon for movement relative thereto, means for moving said cutting mechanism relative to said frameby power and for locking the same in fixed relation to said f mile at the will of the operator including a friction driven cutting mecha nism moving element, a cutting mechanism locking element, and means for connecting said cutting mechanism to either of said elements requiring simultaneous connection to both of said elements during change from connection to one to connection to the other thereof.

14. In a mining apparatus, a frame, cutting mechanism mounted thereon for movement relative thereto means for moving said cuttingmechanism relative to said frame in cluding a self-locking drive having a terminal element connectible in driving relation to said cutting mechanism to move the latter, a locking element connectible to said cutting mechanism to hold thesame against movement, and means for effecting operative connection between said cuttingmechanism and said terminal and locking elements effecting simultaneous connection with both during change from connection to one to connection with the other.

15. In a mining apparatus, a frame, cutting mechanism mounted thereon for movement relative thereto, means for moving said cutting mechanism relative to said frame including a self-locking drive having a terminal element having a driving Worm wheel coaxial therewith and connectible in driving relation to said cutting mechanism to move natively effecting rotation of the cutting mechanism about its journal and for lockmg the cutting mechamsm with said frame, said means including a drive member, a

driven member, and a stationary member,

and a common operating element for said means, said operating element when moved in. one direction initially connecting said driven member to. said stationary member and thereafter releasing said driven member from said drive member.

17. in a mining machine, a frame, cutting mechanism journaled thereon for rotatable movement relative thereto, means for alternatively efi'ecting rotation of the cutting mechanism about its journal and for locking the cutting mechanism with said frame, said means including a drive member, a driven member, and a stationary member, and a common operating element forsaid means, said operating element when moved in one direction initially connecting said driven member to said stationary member and thereafter releasing said driven member from said drive member and when moved in the opposite direction initially connecting said driven member with said drive member and thereafter disconnecting said driven member from said stationary member.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature. 7

MORRIS P. HOLMES. 

